From Sally Armitage…
Yesterday I was the sole representative for Ilkley Harriers at Windermere marathon. It was my first run of Windermere and my 5th marathon, can’t quite believe I’ve actually ran 5 of these humbling events now! I was really looking forward to this race, I’d decided on entering that I would go with no expectations and the sole goal would just be to enjoy it, and I 100% succeeded! Loved every second of it, well maybe not the 50 second hamstring cramp, but every other second, from the 4am drive there (I like to arrive early!) to the cruise home after lunch.
I aimed to run with the 3:30 pacer, having never ran with a pacer before this was a new experience. Due to the massive pack running with him I decided, after maybe only 500 metres, to run just in front to avoid the congestion. He had cheesy 90s music playing the whole race, imagine Shania Twain, Sophie Baxter, the Spice Girls… all my faves! It was hard staying at that pace, I had to keep slowing down and waiting for them but it paid off and was just what I needed to avoid the stitches, gut issues and muscle cramps I’ve been getting towards the end of all my other marathons. Probably around the 18 mile mark I started to move away from them a little.
It was hilly, I hadn’t done any hill training, actually I don’t think I’ve ever done any hill training! But I’m always fairly happy running hills and the only hill that really got me wondering my life choices was the one with the 16% gradient, luckily this was in the first half of the race! I would describe the rest of the course as ‘rolling’ rather than having any horrific climbs. I think my favourite aspects of this race was the support though the villages and especially at the finish, our numbers had names on and it‘s amazing the difference when people are shouting your actual name out, what a boost. Loved it!
Now to recover and soon it’ll be time to begin preparing for Chester marathon in October!
1st male Michael Young (Metro Aberdeen Running Club) 2:38:08
1st female Becky Ripley (Glaxo Hoad Hill Harriers) 3:17:40
49th (4th lady) Sally Armitage 3:27:34
748 ran